There are some Parks and Reserves that protect the Mission Blue butterflies, although there needs to be This nonprofit is very dedicated to helping protect the Mission Blue butterflies, as you can see on there website: “In 2016, California Garden Club members approved extending the financial support for an additional five years in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Funds raised will continue support the propagation of two species of lupine used as larval plants to assist increasing the population of the federally endangered Mission Blue butterfly” (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy). (Looper, 2017) Monitoring and habitat restoration are two important conservation efforts this nonprofit is doing. The California Garden Clubs Inc. monitors the butterflies to detect trends in their abundance, distribution, and the timing of their flight season. Monitoring all these trends helps them understand what is affecting the trends and to determine where and when they should intervene. (Looper, 2017)
Parks and Reserves Doing Their Part
Parks and Reserves That Protect the Mission Blue Butterfly
​
-
Marin Headlands
-
Marin Headlands has a great program that is aimed to protect the habitat of the Mission Blue butterflies. The point of the program is to root out the non-native species from selected areas, and then remove these species and replace them with native, coastal, prairie plants. (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy)
-
​
​
-
San Bruno Mountain
-
The San Bruno Mountain has a very similar conservation program to Marin Headlands, but what is amazing is that they have been able to protect over 3,500 acre of the Mission Blue butterfly since 1983 (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy).
-
​
​
-
Fort Baker
-
Fort Baker is a former military installation managed by the National Park Service. At Fort Baker they are physically removing and/or containing the species in the area within or adjacent to the Lupin (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy).
-
​
​
-
Twin Peaks
-
At Twin Peaks they have the largest area of coastal scrub and prairie that remains in San Francisco. What is amazing about this area is that it is managed by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, and it contains 31 acres of “natural areas.” Another interesting fact about this park is that it regularly conducts egg surveys on lupine plants during the spring (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy).
-
Parks and Reserves Take Action!
Habitat restoration is the next effort that takes place after monitoring. There is two phases in habitat restoration. Phase one is growing and planting the lupines, which preserves the habitat as well as fostering interest in gardening, plant nurseries, promoting environmental awareness, and community engagement. Phase two is propagation and planting twelve California native nectar plants that adult mission blue butterflies use as nectar sources and ensure suitable habitat exists in between patches of host laval Lupines. (Looper, 2017) more than the ones existing now and more protection in the ones that exist today. Although there is always more to do, the parks and reserves are doing a great job protecting this species.
Lupin Flower, which many of the parks and reserves try and protect (image from Baird, 2010).
Marin Headlands (image from Beland, 2005).
Fort Baker (image from Fort Baker with the Golden Gate Bridge, 2008)